2006年VOA标准英语-Mixed Reaction to Closure of Cinemas in Somali

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
12 June 2006
 
In Somalia's capital, there are mixed reactions over the recent closure of public cinemas by hard-line Islamists, with some people believing the closures are just the beginning of repressive measures, while others saying that local militias¹, not Islamic court leaders, unilaterally shut the cinemas.

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Anger among many Mogadishu residents that are unable to watch World Cup soccer games, movies, and other entertainment at their local cinemas led to violent protests during the weekend in the capital.

A spokesman for the Islamic courts, which recently claimed victory in the capital against a group known as the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-terrorism, was quoted in press reports as saying the cinemas show Western and Indian movies that corrupt² the morals of young people.

But it is not clear whether or not the leadership of the Islamic courts ordered the cinema closures.

Ali Musa Abdi is a reporter with the French news agency who is in Mogadishu. He says that, according to his research, local militias acted unilaterally in shutting the cinemas down.

"The Islamic court officials, most of them, they do not appreciate movies and other things," said Abdi. "But they say they have no time [to close the cinemas], and this time they are dealing³ with other security matters rather than engaging themselves in local petty politics of cinemas."

Abdi says Mogadishu residents have mixed feelings about the closures, with some saying that this is the beginning of the widespread imposition of strict Sharia law contrary to Somalia's secular⁴ state, and others saying that the closures are long overdue⁵.

"The people are much more worried saying that maybe these people are imposing⁶ their own rules," said Abdi. "But others are saying that the cinemas have never been helpful, they were not paying taxation⁷ to anybody, they have been run by gunmen, and the sanitation⁸ in some of the cinemas was very bad, and some are not worried, so they are divided over the issue of cinemas."

For the past several months, militias loyal to the Islamic courts had been battling warlords and militias belonging to the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-terrorism.

When the Islamic courts declared that they had taken control of Mogadishu many inside Somalia and outside, including the United States, expressed concern that the Islamic courts would usher⁹ in a new era of restrictive measures under Islamic Sharia law and could possibly create an environment that would harbor terrorists.

An Islamic court leader was recently quoted as saying his group would not impose Sharia law unless people wanted it.

Since civil war broke out in 1991, clan-based militias have controlled different parts of the country, with no central authority to provide law and order or basic services to the population.

A transitional Somali parliament was formed in Kenya more than a year ago and is based in the Somali city of Baidoa.

1 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

2 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

5 overdue   

adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的

参考例句：

• The plane is overdue and has been delayed by the bad weather.飞机晚点了，被坏天气耽搁了。
• The landlady is angry because the rent is overdue.女房东生气了，因为房租过期未付。

6 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

7 taxation   

n.征税，税收，税金

参考例句：

• He made a number of simplifications in the taxation system.他在税制上作了一些简化。
• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。

8 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

9 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。